Demonstration Projects for Whole-Person Health Models for Women Living with HIV in the South

The purpose of this demonstration project is to support coordinated Clinic and Community Collaboratives (CCCs) to integrate HIV care with broader women's health services in jurisdictions with disproportionately high HIV disease burden to improve HIV-related outcomes, overall health, and quality of life among WWH. Organizations will be funded to implement 4 strategies: (1) Integrate HIV care with broader women's health services via Clinic and Community Collaborative (CCC). This includes screening, linkage, and navigation activities for chronic disease, behavioral health, women's health across the lifespan (i.e., gynecologic care, menopause, cervical/breast cancer screening, prenatal/ postpartum care), aging-related care, and quality of life (QOL)-related essential support services. CCCs will be comprised of clinics and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and local and state health departments (HDs) serving women in areas in the South with high HIV disease burden; (2) Provide services that are culturally and linguistically responsive; (3) Participate in a learning collaborative to share best practices and lessons learned; and (4) Strengthen program coordination between clinical, community, and public health partners for sustainability. Key outcomes of the project include an increased number of WWH who initiate rapid ART, are virally suppressed, screened for chronic disease and other preventive health needs, have met needs for behavioral health, aging-related, and other essential support services, increased coordination between clinical, community, and public health partners, and increased sustainability of integrated women's health service models.

Eligible applicants for this NOFO include Governments in the territories of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam, as well as the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, or their bona fide agents, are also eligible to apply. Bona fide agents must submit documentation demonstrating their relationship with the eligible applicant. Acceptable documentation may include an authorizing statute, an executive designation letter, articles of incorporation or charter, or a binding agreement with the health department.

Applications will be evaluated based on: (1) satisfactory progress in meeting project objectives; (2) the extent to which the objectives for the new budget period are specific, measurable, time phased, realistic, and consistent with National HIV Prevention Goals; (3) the extent to which proposed changes in methods of operation are appropriate and likely to improve prevention efforts; (4) evaluation plans which enhance the success of the project; (5) the availability of funds.